How accurate is Birdsong's bird identifier?

It runs Google's Perch, a research-grade acoustic model covering nearly 15,000 species. When a call is ambiguous, we say so honestly and let you record a second clip to confirm, rather than guessing.

Is my recording stored?

No. Your audio is used to identify the bird in the moment and isn't saved to our servers. The birds you confirm are kept as cards in your own field journal; the recordings themselves are not.

Is the bird identifier free?

Yes — identify birds every day for free, no account required. Birdsong Pro ($3.99/mo or $39.99/yr) unlocks unlimited IDs, full field guides, your growing collection, and shareable Field Report cards.

Do I need an account or internet to identify a bird?

You'll need a connection to identify, since the AI runs in the cloud. No account is needed to try it — sign in with Google or email to save your field journal and sync it across devices.

Birdsong field guide

African Collared-Dove

Streptopelia roseogrisea

A pale, slender dove of arid regions, recognized as the wild ancestor of the domesticated Barbary Dove.

What it sounds like

A rhythmic, trisyllabic 'koo-kooo-ku' with the second syllable being notably elongated and stressed.

Reference call, compare with what you heard

0:00 / 2:08

Rec. Peter Boesman · SenegalCC BY-NC-ND Xeno-canto

Field notes

It is the direct wild progenitor of the common domestic Barbary Dove (Streptopelia risoria).
Distinguished from the Eurasian Collared-Dove by its significantly paler, creamy plumage and white undertail coverts.
Highly nomadic, these birds frequently travel long distances across desert fringes to locate reliable water sources.
The species participates in a ritualized bowing display where the male lowers his head and coos to attract a mate.
Though native to Africa and Arabia, feral populations have established themselves in several Caribbean islands and parts of the United States.

Habitat

Arid scrubland, acacia savannas, semi-desert environments, and agricultural edges near water.

Range

The Sahel belt of sub-Saharan Africa, extending from Mauritania to Ethiopia, and the southwestern Arabian Peninsula.

Similar & commonly confused birds

Adamawa Turtle-DoveStreptopelia hypopyrrha Burmese Collared-DoveStreptopelia xanthocycla Dusky Turtle-DoveStreptopelia lugens Eurasian Collared-DoveStreptopelia decaocto European Turtle-DoveStreptopelia turtur Mourning Collared-DoveStreptopelia decipiens Oriental Turtle-DoveStreptopelia orientalis Philippine Collared-DoveStreptopelia dusumieri

Heard a African Collared-Dove?

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